GV 1116 
.U5 W6 
1919 
Copy 1 



GV 1116 
.U5 M6 
1919 
Copy 1 



LAW, 
nuLcS AND REGULATIONS 

FOR THE 

GOVERNMENT OF BOXING 



N THE 



STATE OF WISCONSIN 



1919 



PUBIilSHED 

by the 

STATE ATHIiETIC 

COMMISSION 



n„ of D« 

-'tC 23 1S19 



WISCONSIN STATE ATHLETIC 
COMMISSION LAW 



Chapter 73c of the Statutes 

[Enacted as Ch. 632 L. 1913; Ch. 773 L. 1913 

S. 85 and amended by Chs. 272, 486 

L. 1915 and Ch. 374 1919.] 

Section 1636 — 241. 1. There is hereby created 
a board which shall be known as the "State 
Athletic Commission of Wisconsin." Within 
thirty days after the passage and publication ot 
this act, the governor shall appoint a member 
who shall serve for two years, another who 
shall serve for three years and another who 
shall serve for four years. Thereafter each 
member shall be appointed for a term of five 
years. Vacancies shall be filled in the same 
manner for unexpired terms. Two members of 
the commission, with the secretary shall con- 
stitute a quorum for the exercise of the powers 
or authority conferred upon it, and in case of 
a vacancy, the remaining members of the com- 
mission, unless such vacancy is filled. 

2. The commission shall maintain a general 
office for the transaction of its business at such 
place as the commission may designate. The 
commission may hold meetings at any place 
other than the place in which the general office 
is located, when the convenience of the parties 
so requires. The members of the commission 
shall elect one of their number chairman of 
the commission, shall adopt a seal for the com- 
mission and make such rules and regulations 
for the administration of their office, not in- 



2 

consistent herewith, as they may deem expedi- 
ent, and may from time to time amend or abro- 
gate the same. 

(a) The commission shall appoint, and 
* * * may remove, a secretary to the commis- 
sion, whose duty it shall be to keep a full and 
true record of all the proceedings, of the com- 
mission, preserve at its general office all its 
books, documents and papers, prepare for serv- 
ice such notices and other papers as may be re- 
quired of him by the commission, and to per- 
form such other duties as the commission may 
prescribe; and he may, under the direction of 
the commission, issue subpoenas for the at- 
tendance of witnesses before the commission 
with the same effect as if they were issued in 
an action in the circuit court, and may, under 
the direction of the commission, administer 
oaths, in all matters appertaining to the duty 
of his office or connected with the administra- 
tion of the affairs of the commission. Dis- 
obedience of such subpoenas and false swear- 
ing before such secretary, shall be attended by 
the same consequences, and be subject to the 
same penalties, as if such disobedience or false 
swearing occurred in an action in the circuit 
court. 

(a-1) The secretary shall hold office during 
the pleasure of the commission and shall give 
a bond to the state of "Wisconsin in the sum of 
two thousand dollars, with good and sufficient 
sureties to be approved by the commission, for 
the faithful nerformance of his duties as such 
secretary. iSuch secretary shall receive such 
salary as the commission shall fix, not exceed- 
ing fifteen hundred dollars per annum. 

(a-2) The commission shall have, and is 
hereby vested with the sole direction, manage- 
ment and control of, and jurisdiction over, all 
boxing and sparring matches and exhibitions 



to be conducted, held or given within the state 
by any club, corporation or association; and 
no boxing or sparring matches or exhibitions 
shall be conducted, held or given within the 
state except pursuant to authority therefor 
granted by the commission and in accordance 
with the provisions of this act and the rules 
and regulations of the commission. The com- 
mission may, at its discretion, issue, and for 
cause revoke a license to conduct, hold or give 
boxing and sparring matches and exhibitions to 
any incorporated club or association formed 
as hereinafter provided. The commission shall 
have full power and authority to limit the num- 
ber of sparring or boxing exhibitions to be held 
or given by any club, organization or corpora- 
tion in any city in this state, wherein such box- 
ing contests are conducted in the manner herein 
provided. No boxing or sparring exhibition 
shall be conducted by any club, organization or 
corporation having a, license to coilduct si^ar- 
ring or boxing exhibitions in this state e^cerit 
by a sanction or permit from the state athletic 
commission. Every license shall be subiect to 
such rules and regulations, and amendments 
thereof, as the r>ommission may prescribe. 
From and after January 1. 1916. no license 
shall be issued bv the commission to anv club, 
cornoration or association to conduct boxins: or 
starring exhibitions as herein provided for in 
anv citv of the second, third or fourth elf ss 
unless such citv shall have consented by ordin- 
ance or resolution bv its common council to 
the conducting- of boxing or sparring exhibi- 
tions in such city. 

(b) The commission shall make to thp legis- 
lature a full rer)ort of its proceedins:s for the 
two years endina: with the nrecedins: first day 
of December, before the beginning of the reg- 
ular session of the legislature; said report to 



the legislature shall be completed and shall 
contain a statement of clubs, organizations or 
corporations, the number of licenses revoked, 
the gross receipts from each club, organization 
or corporation, and such other information and 
comments in relation to the work of the com- 
mission as the public interest may require. 

2a. No boxing or sparring exhibition shall be 
conducted by any club or organization except by 
license issued to such club or organization by 
the state athletic commission of Wisconsin; and 
no club or organization shall be entitled to re- 
ceive a' state license unless it has been incor- 
porated under the laws of the state of Wiscon- 
sin, and provided, further, that the membership 
of such club shall be limited to persons who 
have been- continuous residents in the state at 
least one year. The apDlication for a license, 
as herein provided for, shall be in writing, and 
shall be addressed to the commission, and shall 
be verified by some officer of the club, organiza- 
tion or cornoration on whose behalf the aopli ca- 
tion may be made. iSuch application shall be 
accompanied by an annual fee. which shall be 
twenty-five dollars in cities of not more than 
five thousand inhabitants: fifty dollars in cities 
of not more than fifty thousand inhabitants; 
one hundred dollars in cities of not more than 
seventy-five thousand inhabitants; and three 
hundred dollars in all cities of the state having 
a nopulation of over one hundred fifty thousand 
inhabitants. .Such application must show that 
the club or organization has a bona fide lease 
for one year of the building, for athletic pur- 
poses, wherein such contests are to be held. 
Before any such permit or license is granted to 
any club, organization or corporation, which 
shall have filed its application as herein pro- 
vided, such applicant must file a bond of two 
thousand dollars of good and sufficient surety 



with the state treasurer, conditioned for the 
payment of the taxes herein imposed. 

3. Every club, corporation or association 
which may hold or exercise any of the privileges 
conferred hy this * * * section shall, within 
twenty-four hours after the determination of 
every contest, furnish to the said commission a 
written report, duly verified by one of its of- 
ficers, showing the number of tickets soDi for 
such contest, and the amount of gross proceeds 
thereof, and such other matters as the commis- 
sion may prescribe; and shall also within said 
time, pay to the said * * * commission a tax 
of five per cent of its total gross receipts from 
the sale of tickets of admission to such boxing 
or sparring match or exhibition. 

4. Whenever amateur boxing and sparring 
matches or exhibitions are held under the aus- 
pices or sanction of the Amateur Athletic 
Union, or the Young Men's Christian Associa- 
tion or any organization of Wisconsin National 
or State Guard, the license fee necessary under 
this act shall not be required of said organiza- 
tion; such matches and exhibitions shall, how- 
ever, be subject to all the other provisions of 
this act and the rules and regulations of the 
commission. 

5. The commission shall appoint official repre- 
sentatives designated as "inspectors," each of 
whom shall receive from the commission a card, 
authorizing him to act as such inspector wher- 
ever the commission may designate him to act. 
The commission may, and at least one inspector 
shall be present at all exhibitions and matches 
and see that the rules are strictly observed, and 
an inspector shall also be present at the count- 
ing up of the gross receipts, and shall imme- 
diately mail to the commission the official box 
office statement received by him from the of 
fleers of the club. 



6 

6. No boxing or sparring match or exhibition 
shall be held on Sunday. 

7. No intoxicating liquor shall be given away, 
sold or offered for sale in any building or part 
thereof, in which boxing or sparring exhibitions 
are being conducted. 

8. No boxing or sparring exhibition shall be 
of more than ten rounds duration, and no one 
round of such exhibition shall be permitted to 
extend for a longer period than three minutes. 

(a) There shall be one minute intermission 
between each round. 

(b) No contestant shall in any such boxing 
or sparring exhibition wear, or be permitted to 
wear, gloves weighing less than five ounces for 
contestants under one hundred and forty 
pounds, and six ounces for contestants over one 
hundred and forty pounds. 

(c) No contestant under the age of eighteen 
years shall be permitted to participate in any 
such boxing or sparring contest. 

(d) No betting or wagering at any boxing or 
sparring contests shall be permitted by any 
club or organization before, after, or during 
any such contest, in the building where such 
contest is held. 

(e) Contestants shall break clean, and must 
not hold and hit. Butting with head or 
shoulder, wrestling or illegal use of elbows shall 
not be allowed. There shall be no unsportS' 
manlike conduct on the part of the contestants. 
This shall include the use of abusive or insult- 
ing language. 

(f) No decision shall be rendered in any con- 
test held under the provisions of this * * * 
section. 

9. No person under the age of eighteen years 
shall be admitted to a boxing or sparring exhibi- 
tion, unless accompanied by his parent. 

10. Each contestant must be examined prior 



to entering the ring by a physician who has 
been licensed to practice in Wisconsin for not 
less than five years; such physician to be ap- 
pointed by the commission. The physician 
shall certify in writing, over his signature, as 
to the contestants' physical condition to engage 
in such contest. 

The commission is authorized to grant li- 
censes upon the application and the payment 
of a fee of ten dollars per annum to competent 
referees, who shall be bona fide residents of the 
state, and may revoke any license 'so granted 
to any such referee upon such cause as the com- 
mission shall deem sufficient. The referee must 
stop the contest or match when either of the 
contestants shows a marked superiority or is 
apparently outclassed. 

11. Any club, corporation or organization 
which shall conduct, hold or give or participate 
in any sham or fake boxing or sparring match, 
shall thereby forfeit its license in accordance 
with the provisions of this section which shall 
thereupon be by the commission cancelled, and 
declared void; and it shall not thereafter be en- 
titled to receive another such, or any license 
pursuant to the provisions of this * * * sec- 
tion; nor shall any such license be issued to 
any club or organization, which has among its 
members any member who belonged to a club 
or organization which had its license revoked. 

12. Any contestant who shall participate in' 
any sham or fake boxing or sparring match or 
violate any rule or regulation of the commis- 
sion shall be penalized in the following man- 
ner: 

For the first offense he shall be restrained by 
order of the commission for a period of not less 
than three months nor more than one year 
in the discretion of the commission, such period 
to begin immediately after the occurrence of 



such offense, from participating in any boxing 
to be held or given by any club or corporation, 
duly licensed to give or hold such hoxing or 
sparring match or exhibition; for a second of- 
fense, he shall be totally disqualified from fur- 
ther admission or participation in any boxing 
contest, held or given by any club, corporation 
or association, duly licensed for such purpose 
in this state. 

13. Whenever any club, corporation or asso- 
ciation shall fail to make a report of any con- 
test at the fime prescribed by this * * * sec- 
tion, or whenever such report is unsatisfactory 
to the commission, the secretary may examine 
or cause to be examined, the books and records 
of such club, corporation or association, and 
subpoena and examine under oath its officers 
and other person or persons for witnesses fop 
the purpose of determining the total amount of 
its gross receipts for any contest and the 
amount of taxes due pursuant to the provisions 
of this * * * section, which tax he may, 
upon and as a result of such examination, fix 
and determine. In case of a default in the pay- 
ment of any taxes so adjudged to be due, to- 
gether with the expenses incurred in making 
such examination, for a period of twenty days 
after notice to such delinquent club, corpora- 
tion or association of the amount, such delin- 
quent club, corporation or association, shall 
ipso facto forfeit its license and shall be thereby 
disqualified from receiving any new license, or 
any renewal of its license; and it shall in addi- 
tion forfeit to the people of the state of Wis- 
consin the sum of one thousand dollars, which 
may be recovered by the attorney-general in 
the name of the people of the state of Wiscon- 
sin, in the same manner as other penalties are 
by law recovered. 

14. Any person who violates any of the pro- 



visions of this section, for which a penalty is 
not herein expressly prescribed, shall be guilty 
of a misdemeanor. 



APPROPRIATION. 

20.48 STATE ATHLETIC CO>IMISSIOT*. 

All license fees or taxes received by the state 
athletic commission shall ibe paid within one 
week after receipt into the general fund, and 
five thousand two hundred ten dollars thereof 
is appropriated, annually, for salaries and ex- 
penses of said commission. Of this there is 
allotted : 

(1) To each member of the commission com- 
pensation of five dollars per diem for each day 
actually spent in the performance of his ofiicial 
duties; but not exceeding an aggregate of fif- 
teen hundred dollars annually for all the mem- 
bers. 

(2) To the secretary of the commission such 
salary as shall be fixed by the commission, not 
exceeding fifteen hundred dollars annually. 



RULES AND REGULATIONS 

FOR THE 

GOVERNMENT OF BOXING 

IN THE 

STATE OF WISCONSIN 



Adopted by the State Athletic Commission. 

1. The general offices of the Wisconsin State 
Athletic Commission shall be located at No. 70, 
Sentinel Building, in the city of Milwaukee. 

2. The offices shall be open between the hours 
of 9 A. M. and 5 P. M., except upon legal 
holidays. 

3. Blank application forms for licenses to 
conduct boxing and sparring matches or ex- 
hibitions shall be provided by the commission. 

4. Applications for licenses and accompany- 
ing documents required by the provisions of 
chapter 272 of the laws of 1915, as amended 
(sec. 1636—241 Statutes) and rules of the com- 
mission shall be written plainly, and all ques- 
tions appearing on the blank forms of appli- 
cations shall be answered fully. Said applica- 
tion shall be signed by the president or secre- 
tary of the club. 

5. All papers filed with the commission shall 
be the property of the commission. 

_ 6. Before acting upon the application for a 
license, the commission may, in its discretion, 
examine, on oath, the applicant and other wit- 
nesses. 



11 

7. The form of license shall be as follows: 

STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION OF 
WISCONSIN 

License No 

To All to Whom These Presents Shall Come: 

We, the iState Athletic Commission, do here* 

by certify, that on the day 

of 191...., there was 

filed with us an application in writing with a 
view of obtaining a license to promote and con- 
duct boxing exhibitions in the State of Wiscon- 
sin, for the Said appli- 
cation was duly verified by its officers 

and , the 

fee required by law having been paid, receipt 
whereof is hereby acknowledged and a verified 
copy of a surety bond and a verified copy of a 
lease as required by law having been filed: 

NOW, THEREFORE, The State of Wisconsin 

'5oes hereby grant unto the said 

the powers anri. privileges conferred by Section 
1636—241 of the Wisconsin Statutes, for the 
purpose of holding boxing contests in the 

in the city of , 

Wisconsin, for a period of twelve months from 
dst^ hereof. 

This license is subject, however, to such rules 
pnd regulations as the commission may from 
time to time prescribe. 

IN WITNESS W^HEiREO.F, the ^State Ath- 
letic Commission has hereunto set its hand 

and seal this day of . . , 

191 

STATE ATHLETIC COMMISSION, 

By 

Secretary. 



Chairman. 



12 

8. The license certificate issued by the com- 
mission shall be inclosed in a suitable wood or 
metal frame, in order that the whole of said 
certificate may be seen therein, and shall be 
posted up and at all times displayed in a con 
spicuous place in the box office of the club so 
licensed. 

9. It shall ibe unlawful for any club, corpora- 
tion, or association holding a license certificate 
to post such certificate or to permit such cer- 
tificate to be posted upon premises other than 
those for which such certificate was issued. 

• 10. All clubs holding licenses shall be held 
absolutely responsible to the commission for 
all matches or exhibitions held by said club. 

11. All clubs must notify the State Athletic 
Commission in writing of the date of each and 
every match or exhibition held by said club, 
at least eight days prior to the holding of such 
exhibition or match. 

12. All clubs, organizations or corporations 
holding a state license, must obtain a separate 
permit or sanction from the State Athletic 
Commission before holding any boxing show. 

13. The financial report required by Section 
1636—241 of the Statutes shall be transmitted 
to the Commission with the statutory tax. 
Blank forms of reports shall be provided by 
the commission. 

14. No person shall be admitted to a boxing 
or sparring match or exhibition, under the age 
of eighteen, unless accompanied by his parent. 

15. No person shall be admitted to a boxing 
or sparring match or exhibition without a 
ticket, including boxers and seconds. 

16. All complimentary tickets issued to the 
press shall be marked "Press" and shall not 
exceed five to one paper. No more than two 
of said tickets shall be given to any newspa- 
per for seats in the press roto, to be used for 
it§ acting news reporters only, whose names and 



IB 

the name of the paper shall be written on stub 
of ticket. No other tickets for seats in the 
press row shall be issued, except to the com- 
mission, its representatives, timekeeper, and 
ofRcers of the club holding the contest. 

17. All complimentary tickets shall be 
marked "complimentary" in large letters and 
both ends of the tickets shall be clipped. 

18. All tickets not marked "complimentary" 
and clipped at both ends will ibe considered as 
a regular 'admission ticket, and the state tax 
collected thereon for the maximum price 
charged for admission for the contest or ex- 
hibition. 

19. The total number of complimentary tick- 
ets, exclusive of press tickets, shall be limited 
to two percentum of the seating capacity of 
tjie hall or auditorium wherein the exhibition 
or match is held, and the state tax will be col- 
lected for the maximum price charged for ad- 
mission for the contest for all complimentary 
tickets in excess. 

20. The price of the tickets shall be printed 
in large type and displayed above all ticket 
sellers' windows, and shall not ibe varied. 

21. Every admission ticket, pass or compli- 
mentary must be deposited immediately by the 
ticket taker in a, securely locked box to be pro- 
vided for by the club, which box shall be 
opened only in the presence of a state inspec- 
tor, and such inspector shall see that all the 
tickets, passes or complimentaries are carefully 
counted, and report to the commission, the 
price of admission charged in each class of 
tickets and exchanges with the gross receipts 
of all the tickets and exchanges. 

22. The commission shall appoint official 
representatives designated as "inspectors," each 
of whom shall receive from the commission a 
card, authorizing him to act as such inspector 
wherever the commission may designate him 



14 

to act. The commission may, and at least one 
inspector shall be present at all exhibitions, 
and matches and see that the rules are strictly 
observed, and an inspector shall also be pres- 
ent at the counting up of the gross receipts, 
and shall immediately mail to the commission 
the official box office statement received by him 
from the officers of the club. 

23. It shall be obligatory for an officer of the 
club, corporation or association to give to a 
member of the commission or the state inspec- 
tor, immediately after the determination of a 
boxing contest or exhibition, the gross receipts 
thereof, and any other information requested 
pertaining to the contest or exhibition.. 

24. In all boxing or sparring matches or ex- 
hibitions, contestants, referee, timekeepers, 
seconds and examining physician shall at all 
times be under the control and direction of 
the commission. 

25. No boxing or sparring matches or exhibi- 
tions shall be held on Sunday. 

26. There shall ibe prominently displayed in 
at least four (4) places in every hall or audi- 
torium, licensed under the provisions of this 
act, the following notices: 

"NO BETTING ALLOWED" 
"NO SMOKING ALLOWED" 

27. No person shall compete in a boxing or 
sparring match or exhibition in any club, cor- 
poration, association, or any other organization 
not licensed in accordance with the provisions 
of section 1636—241 of the Statutes. 

28. All tickets exclusive of press tickets shall 
have the price and date of show printed plainly 
thereon, and shall have a coupon attached, 
which may be held by the purchaser thereof. 

" 29. All clubs must purchase a separate set of 
tickets for each show, and file with the com- 



15 

mission, when requested, a verified duplicate 
of the order to the printer for said tickets. 
The printer must file with the commission a 
duplicate manifest of each delivery. 

30. No licensed referee shall be allowed to 
make arrangements for boxing matches for any 
club or act as manager for a boxer. 

'31. No introductions or announcements, ex- 
cept those pertaining to the contest or exhibi- 
tion, shall be made from the ring, unless au- 
thorized by a member of the commission or in- 
spector. 

32. Preliminary boxers must be gloved and 
ready to enter the ring immediately after the 
finish of the preceding bout. Any boxer caus- 
ing a delay in not being ready to immediately 
proceed with his bout when called will be sub- 
ject to a suspension for a period from two to 
six months. Contestants in the main match or 
"wind up" must be in the building wherein the 
contest is to be held and ready to respond for 
their bout by nine P. M. 

33. No more than one club shall ibe granted 
a license to conduct professional boxing con- 
tests or exhibitions in cities of the second, third 
or fourth class, nor shall there be more than 
two boxing shows in any calendar month in 
cities of the second, third or fourth class. 

34. No more than three clubs shall be given 
a license to conduct professional boxing con- 
tests or exhibitions in cities of the first class. 

35. Each cluib shall be limited to one show 
each month in cities of first class excepting 
that the commission may at its discretion 
grant a special sanction to hold one extra show 
to one of the three clut^s in any calendar month, 
such privilege to be awarded alternately be- 
tween the three clubs. 

36. Clubs are prohibited from issuing pass 
out checks or tickets except in cases of abso- 
lute necessity, and such cases shall be reported 



16 

to the commission or the inspector for ap- 
proval. 

'37. Tickets of .different prices must be 
printed on cardboard of different and distinc- 
tive colors. 

38. Clubs are prohibited from accepting cash 
at door for admission to boxing shows and each 
person passing into a boxing show must be 
provided with a ticket or pass. 

39. Clubs are prohibited to sell any ticket for 
any price other than the price printed there- 
on or to change the prices of tickets at any 
time after tickets for the exhibition have been 
placed on sale, or to sell any tickets at any 
"time during the exhibition at less price than 
tickets for the same seats were sold or offered 
for the exhibition. 

40. In order to prevent delays and annoyance 
to spectators resulting from disputes arising 
between contestants and between contestants 
and clubs after boxing contests or exhibitions 
have begun, it is required that all contracts 
between the club and boxers agreeing to be 
contestants shall be in writing, signed by the 
parties thereto or of their authorized agents, 
and filed with the commission at least five days 
before the contest before any sanction for such 
contest or exhibition will be issued by the com- 
mission. In case any such contract shall pro- 
vide for the payment by the club to any con- 
testant of any stipulated or guaranteed amount, 
exceeding $150 — a certified check, certificate of 
deposit or accepted draft for said amount, pay- 
able to bearer, shall be deposited with the com- 
mission not less than five (5) days before the 
date set for said contest. In case of the per- 
formance of such contract by and on behalf of 
such contestant such check, certificate : of de- 
posit or draft will be delivered by the commis- 
sion personally or by registered mail to such 
contestant, or to the person signing such con- 



17 

tract as his agent, promptly after the contest, 
unless written protest or objection by the club 
against the delivery thereof is first served on 
the commission, in which event, the same will 
be held by the commission until the parties 
can be heard and their rights in the matter 
determined by the commission, unless the par- 
ties or either of them shall appeal to a court 
of law, in which case the commission will de- 
liver such check, certificate of deposit or draft 
in court in such action to be awarded by the 
court ' to the party found entitled thereto. 

In case any such contract shall provide for 
any such guarantee to aiiy contestant, such 
contestant or some person authorized on his 
behalf shall deposit with the commission, not 
less than five days before the date set for such 
contest, a certified check, certificate of deposit 
or accepted draft, payable to bearer, for the 
amount of any forfeit agreed in said contract 
to be posted by such contestant to secure his 
appearance, his making the agreed weight, if 
any, and the good faith performance by him 
of said contract on his part, the amount of said 
forfeit to be in no case less than twenty-five 
per cent of the amount of such guarantee. In 
case any contract for contest, or exhibition, 
shall provide for comDensation to the contest- 
ant on a percentage of the receipts only, such 
forfeit shall nevertheless be so deposited by 
the contestant in each instance and the amount 
thereof shall be as fixed by the commission and 
named in the sanction issued by the commis- 
sion for such contest or exhibition. If the con- 
testant bv or on whose behalf such check, cer- 
tiflcate of deposit or draft is deposited with thp 
commission shall duly appear and in good 
faith perform all the terms and conditions of 
said contract. RxceDt as he may be prevpnted 
from so doing by default, of the club or of his 
agreed opponent, then said check, certificate of 



Ig 

deposit or draft, will be delivered by the com- 
mission personally or by registered mail to 
the person by whom the same was deposited 
with the commission promptly after the close 
of the exhibition, unless the club by written 
notice first served on the commission shall 
claim said deposit as forfeited by such con- 
testant, in which event such deposit will be 
held by the commission until the parties can 
be heard or given opportunity to be heard and 
their rights in the matter determined by the 
commission, unless the parties or either of 
them shall appeal to a court of law, in which 
case the commission will deliver such check, 
certificate of deposit or draft in court in such 
action to be awarded iby the court to the party 
found entitled thereto. 

Every such check, certificate of deposit or 
draft so deposited with the commission either 
by any club as a guarantee or by or on behalf 
of any contestant as a forfeit, the delivery of 
which shall be contested before the commis- 
sion, will be held by the commission a reason- 
aible time, not less than three days nor more 
than ten days after service on the parties in- 
terested of notice of the commission's ruling 
or order for delivery of such deposit to enable 
any party dissatisfied with such ruling or or- 
der to institute such legal proceedings as he 
or it may be advised for the possession of such 
deposit. Unless notice of such legal proceed- 
ings is served on the commission within the 
time named in the order, such deposit will be 
delivered by the commission as provided in 
its said ruling or order. 

Every sanction for any contest or exhibition 
issued by the commission shall be revocable 
by the commission at any time and every such 
sanction shall be revoked and shall stand ipso 
fact absolutely revoked, without notice or any 
action by the commission, unless ever^ ^U£^r- 



19 

antee or forfeit provided for by any contract 
for any contest or exhibition, or by these rules, 
shall be deposited with the commission in the 
manner and within the time prescribed by 
these rules. 

41. Any boxer making a contract with a club 
and failing to deposit his forfeit money at least 
five days prior to date of contest will be liable 
to suspension for such time as the commis- 
sion may determine. 

42. The boxing ring shall not be less than 16 
feet nor more than 24 feet square, and shall be 
formed of posts and ropes, the latter extend- 
ing in triple lines 2, 3 and 4 feet from the 
floor of the ring. The floor of the ring shall 
extend beyond the lower ropes for a distance 
of not less than two feet. Posts must be prop- 
erly padded and the ring floor padded at least 
two feet outside the ropes, and extend over the 
edge of the platform with a felt or soft mate- 
rial to be approved iby the commission, not less 
than one and one-half inches in thickness, un- 
der a canvas covering. 

(When the floor of the boxing ring is not 
elevated at least 3 V2 feet above the floor of the 
building there shall be a clear space of 3 feet 
on all sides of the ring from the posts.) 

A gong, not less than 8 inches in diameter 
shall be fastened to one of the posts of the ring 
for the timekeeper, such bell must not be on a 
post in the corner occupied by a contestant 
and his seconds. Contestants are prohibited 
from changing the location of corners during 
any of the contests. 

43. Scale of weights shall be: 

Paper 108 pounds 

Bantamweight 115 pounds 

Featherweight 125 pounds 

Lightweight 135 pounds 

Welterweight 145 pounds 

Middleweight .,..,.,, 158 pounds 



20 

Commission 175 pounds 

Heavy, all over 175 pounds 

44. The chief official of the boxing match or 
exhibition shall be the referee. 

45. The referee shall be appointed by the 
commission and shall receive from the com- 
mission a card authorizing him to act as such 
referee, and no club shall employ or permit 
any one to act as referee excepting those hold- 
ing such card of authorization from the com- 
mission. 

46. No decision shall be rendered by the ref- 
eree. A decision may be given in amateur 
tournaments pursuant to the authority and 
jurisdiction of the Amateur Athletic Union of 
the United States. 

47. The referee shall before starting the 
match or exhibition ascertain from each con- 
testant the name of his chief second, and shall 
hold such chief second responsible for the con- 
duct of the seconds during the progress of the 
contest, and shall, prior to the contest, instruct 
the contestants concerning the commission 
rules. 

48. Contestants must box in proper athletic 
costume, including protection cup, approved by 
commission. 

49. Clubs must notify the secretary of the 
commission of the name of the referee at least 
48 hours prior to the day on which any boxing 
contest or exhibition is held. 

50. Contestants may learn the name of the 
official referee of the club before whom they 
are to compete by application to the secretary 
of the commission. If said contestants are not 
satisfied with the official referee they must 
notifv the secretary of the commission in writ- 
ing 24 hours prior to the match or exhibition, 
and in case of failure to do so they must sub- 
mit to the jurisdiction of the club. 



21 

51. Unless the commission shall have been 
informed of the name of the club's referee 
forty-eight hours prior to an exhibition or in 
case there shall be any dispute as to who shall 
be the referee and not definitely settled twelve 
hours prior to the contest, the commission will 
appoint a referee for said exhibition. 

52. All matches or exhibitions in which more 
than two principals appear in the ring at the 
same time, commonly called a "battle royal" 
exhibition, are forbidden. 

53. No contestant shall box or spar more 
than ten rounds in the same ring on the same 
day. 

54. All clubs and contestants must enter into 
written contracts, which contracts shall be exe- 
cuted in triplicate, one of which shall be filed 
with the commission. Contract blanks will be 
furnished by the commission, which must be 
used for all contests or exhibitions. 

55. Clubs must not wilfully violate or break 
contracts consummated between club or boxer. 

56. Boxers or contestants must not wilfully 
violate or break contracts properly consum- 
mated between boxer and club. 

57. In all matches or exhibitions not more 
than three seconds shall attend or assist a con- 
testant, and the official referee shall enforce 
said rule. 

58. There shall be no coaching by the seconds 
or any other person, and the seconds must re- 
main seated and silent during the round and 
must not rise from their seats until the bell 
announces the termination of the round. The 
seconds are forbidden to throw or splash any 
water on the boxer during the contest or be- 
tween the rounds, nor throw or cast a towel 
in the ring as a signal of defeat. 

59. The contestants in all contests and ex- 
hibitions shall weigh in stripped not later than 
3 o'clock of the day of the match in the pres- 



22 

ence of an inspector, club representative and 
commission physician who will make physical 
examination of contestants at that time, in case 
the contest is held in the afternoon the con- 
testants shall weigh in at 10:00 a. m., and 
the weights of the contesting boxers will be 
announced at the ringside. This rule must be 
observed regardless of private agreement con- 
cerning the match. 

60. Chief or main match or exhibition shall 
commence not later than 10 p. m. The club 
must select from the various contests the chief 
or main match exhibition. 

61. The kidney punch, back hand blow, or 
striking with open glove, shall be forbidden 
in all contests. 

62. Contestants shall break clean; and must 
not strike a blow while breaking from the 
clinches. Contestants must not hold and hit. 
Butting with head or shoulder, wrestling or 
clinching, or illegal use of elbows, shall not be 
allowed. There shall be no unsportsmanlike 
conduct on the part of the contestants. This 
shall include the use of abusive or insulting 
language. 

63. The referee must stop the contest when 
either contestant shows marked superiority, or 
is apparently outclassed. If contestant fails 
through weakness, or is knocked down, he must 
get up unassisted, ten seconds being allowed 
him to do so; the other man ip. the meantime 
must return to his corner, and remain there 
until his opponent can get up. The referee 
may stop counting at any time if this is not 
complied with. 

64. Each glove shair 'weigh at least five 
ounces for contestants under 140 pounds and 
six ounces for contestants over 140 pounds and 
shall be new for the "chief or main match. 
The gloves must not be twisted or in any way 
manipulated. In case a glove shall break or 



23 

come off during the contest, the referee shall 
order time taken out while a new glove is be- 
ing adjusted. 

65. Only soft cotton or linen bandages shall 
be used and shall be confined to three thick- 
nesses for protection of the hands. One thick- 
ness of adhesive tape may be used to hold soft 
bandage in place and all bandages shall be 
subject to the approval of the commission or 
referee. 

66. The length of a match or exhibition shall 
not exceed ten rounds. Each round shall be 
limited to a three-minute period or less. There 
shall be one-minute intermission between each 
round. 

,67. No person under eighteen years of age 
shall be permitted to participate in any contest 
or exhibition. 

68. Each contestant must be examined prior 
to entering the ring by a commission physi- 
cian, who has been licensed to practice in the 
state of Wisconsin for not less than five years. 
The physician shall certify in writing over his 
signature as to contestant's physical condition 
to engage in such contest. And said physician 
shall be in attendance during contest, prepared 
to deal with any emergency which may arise.. 
Said physician shall file said report of ex- 
amination with the commission within twenty- 
four hours after the contest. Blank forms of 
physician's reports may be had at the com- 
mission's office and all questions must \>e 
answered in full. 

69. No person other than the contestants and 
the referee shall, during the progress of the 
contest, enter the ring. 

70. If a main match or exhibition is stopped 
by the referee, or, by a member of the State 
Athletic Commission, or inspector, for an in- 
fraction of the rules of the commission or for 
a violation of the provisions of Section 1636 — 



24 



241, the club shall hold all box office receipts 
of said match or exhibition for a period of 
forty-eight hours, pending the decision of the 
commission. 

71. No boxer shall.be permitted to contest 
against an opponent ten pounds heavier than 
himself, in the lightweight class or under said 
class. 

72. As to questions arising, not provided for 
in these rules, the commission shall have power 
to decide such questions or interpretation of 
rules. All persons attending a sparring match 
or exhibition shall behave in a gentlemanly 
and sportsmanlike manner, and shall not coach 
the contestants or make anyj:emarks or noise 
while the bouts are going on. : 

73. No officer, matchmaker or stockholder ot 
any club, corporation or association shall offici- 
ate in any capacity at any boxing or sparring 
match or exhibition or interfere in any way 
with the contestants. 

74. No sanction will be granted to any club 
for any boxing contest or exhibition in which 
any boxer is to take part for whom such club 
or any officer, member, stockholder or employe 
of such club, is manager, advisor or match- 
maker. 

75. All boxers to appear in the main contest 
or exhibition, must train in tne city wherein 
said contest Is to be held, or some other suit- 
able place designated by the commission, at 
least three days prior to the date of their en- 
gagement. 

76. No boxer will .be allowed to take part in 
any boxing contest or exhibition who, within 
six days prior to the date of such contest or 
exhibition, shall have taken part, in any other 
boxing contest or exhibition. 

77. A boxer, or his manager, after closing a 
contract with a club, shall deposit the forfeit 
money agreed upon with the State Athletic 



25 

Commission, at least five days before the con- 
test. Anyone violating this rule will be sus- 
pended by the commission from participating 
in any boxing contest or exhibition held in the 
state for a period of not less than two months 
or more than one year. 

78. Not more than twenty rounds of boxing 
prior to the chief or main match will be per- 
mitted at any show, except, by special permis- 
sion from the commission. 

79. Any club that does not announce in the 
Dress a substitution for any contestant that 
has been advertised at any boxing show, as 
soon as it is known, may be penalized by the 
commission, by suspension for a period of not 
less than thirty days nor more than three 
months. 

80. Any boxer, or manager for boxer, who 
has entered into a contract with any club to 
participate in a boxing or sparring match, who 
shall find that for any reason or cause that 
he will not be able to fully carry out his con- 
tract, and does not notify the club and the 
commission of his incapability to do so, and 
the reason or cause therefor, may be penalized 
by the commission by suspension for a neriod 
of not less than thirty days nor more than 8 
months. Telegrams or letters showing accept- 
ance of terms pending to the signing of con- 
tract will be considered as an agreement be- 
tween a boxer, his manager, and the club. 

81. It shall be within the province of the 
commission to suspend any boxer, his man- 
ager, or seconds from boxing in the iState of 
Wisconsin, or acting in capacity in connection 
with any boxing contest or exhibition, who is 
eruilty of unfair dealings, ungentlemanlv con- 
duct, or for violating any of the rules pnd reg- 
ulations of the commission for a period of not 
less than one month or more than eight 
months. 



82. In order to have a sufficient number of 
inspectors at the entrance doors at a boxing 
show, the club must notify the commission 24 
hours before a show is held as to how many 
doors will be used. In any case where more 
than three doors are to be opened for admis- 
sion, the commission reserves the right to limit 
the number of doors to be used. 

83. Contests or exhibitions between negroes 
and white persons, otherwise known as mixed 
bouts, are strictly prohibited. 

84. In case of a substitution, the substituting' 
boxer must satisfy the commission and exam- 
ining physician that he qualified under these 
rules to engage in such contest or he will not 
be allowed to box. 

85. Any boxer who participates in any un- 
licensed or unsanctioned boxing bout or exhibi- 
tion in the State of Wisconsin will be barred 
for a period of from two to eight months from 
boxing in the state. 

86. The examination given boxers must be 
as follows: Temperature, pulse, (sitting and 
standing), lungs, heart, blood pressure, urine 
analysis (when deemed necessary.) 

87. Inspectors must file within twenty-four 
hours after a bout has been held a report of 
the weights of the boxers at the hour of their 
physical examination. Boxers failing to ap- 
pear for weighing and examination at 3 o'clock 
must be reported to the commission and may 
be suspended from three to six months for 
nonappearance. 

88. If any case occurs which is not, or which 
is alleged not to be provided for by these rules, 
it shall be determined by the members of the 
Wisconsin State Athletic Commission in such 
manner as they think just and conformable to 
the usages and best interest of boxing. 



27 

89. All appointments for inspectors, doctors 
and referees shall expire iSeptember 2d next 
following the date of their appointment. 

90. No club or association and no officer, 
matchmaker or stockholder of any club or asso- 
ciation shall advance or loan money to aid a 
boxer in any capacity in posting his forfeit 
money Avith the commission for any boxing 
contest or exhibition held in connection with 
the club. 

91. No boxing contest or exhibition can be 
held in connection with any homecoming cele- 
bration, unless given or held under the auspices 
of a regular licensed club. 

92. All boxing contests or exhibitions 
(whether admission is charged or not) held or 
given in connection with any theatrical per- 
formance, circus, picnic, side shows at Fairs, 
club smokers, lodges, stag parties, benefits or 
any other amusements are strictly prohibited, 
except when held at military camps or canton- 
ments by order of the War Department. 

Adopted by the iState Athletic Commission of 
Wisconsin. 

WALTER H. LIGINGER, 

Chairman. 
DR. C. W. MORTER, 
WILLIAM P. HART, 

Commissioners. 
MANNING VAUGHAN, 

Secretary. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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